The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-10
PREsuMpruoUs IGNORANCE.


Information has two sources-our
own experiences and the experiences OF
others. One is to the other as the
tumulus is to Mount Everest; one is
limited in time by the brief duration of
our life, and in space by the paths that
lead from the home to the workshop;
the other is as boundleSs in time as the
history of man, and as unlimited in
space as the earth, or in some respects
as the universe. The coral reef is built
oy inuumeIabie insects. the mind is
filed By the experience of innumerable
human beings; as well might single
insect assume the task of constructing
reef, as man presume to 6ll the mind
without the cid of his fellows. Ex-
perience is an ever-building tower. OF
which primitive man laid the founda-
ton, to which each generation adds
course, and each individual a grain of
sand or rock, large or small, rough or
chiseled.
Dependent upon others eyes and
others judgment, it is imp lrtant
that those eyes be perfect and
that Judgment accurate, for irfor-
nation is valuable only so far as it
Is correct. Is the judgment OF man so
infallible, or is nature so simple, that
we may accept without caYil the many
things that are told US concerning the
earth and its creatures? Scientists in
form US that there are few reliable ex
perimenters because Of the desire. al
most universal to make resultsscon-
fern to preconceiYed theories and
to twist fscts and figures 10
that end. It is so in all branches
OF investigation; we approach the
subject with preiudices born of ira
dition. conviction or previous study and
if, perchsnce, we possess the mental
force to-diyest ourselves of our notions,
it will only be after struggle that will
raise such cloud of dust, that Truth
will be obscured. Custom binds US
hand and foot. No doubt we are rldic-
ulous and unwise in many of our
habits; we might learn many beneficial
lessons in diet, dress, and man
ners from nations whom we
despise as uneivilized. We may re-
verse the telescope and others will look
ike pigmies, but the medium is at
FAULT and appearances are illusory. We
regard the Chinese as semi-barbarous,
put they return the compliment, and |
With much reason. We are arrogant |
where it is probable we should be |
modest, and proud where We should
De humble. Our civilization has much |
TO boast of, but are We learned beyond
or advanced beyond pro-
erosion? Has our civilization reached
perfection or social purity +? |
We are in transition state; many
appliances now universal will become
absolute in the march of invention;
many social customs now prevalent
will not survive the lapse of years. |
The locomotive is rot the highest
development of motive power; divorce
prostitution, Yenerea, |
disease. and moral corruption in other |
.orms are not a de:ideratum of social |
science. We should heed the admonition |
If Paul to prove all things, first divest- |
ng ourselves of the curse of bigatry.
But the finite mind, though unbiased
'anrot grasp in6nity. Nature is multi
udinous. both in its creatures and in
he relations existing between its
,reatures. Man has been and is unable
o comprehend his surroundings he
has been, indeed, veritable savage.
;lothed in skins and feeding upon roots
With his tent pitched among the ex-
li6its OF Worlds Exposition. The
World has ever been spherical, the sun
las ever been the focus of its orbit,
.pples have ever fallen in obedience to
steam has ever raised the
over from the Kettle, magnetism mas
yer discovered itself IN amber-snd vet |
or scores of centuries these .urtacs.
ruths were beyond the Intellectual
'rasp Of mankind. unknown uasii
tumbled against by Columbus, Kemp
Pr. Newton Davy and Morse. The
difficulties Of nature, at least what have
roven to be so, are augmented BY her
1reDtiYanpSa We 0ffor, tL;rL |